I'd forgotten about this thread... but it's timely for me to share my experience this week.

TG Chiang Mai - Bangkok:

Boeing 777 Plane FULL
Wheels touched down 18:39
Remote/Bus Gate
Poaring Rain
Between the taxi to the remote bay, and the bus ride to the terminal, a good 20-25 minutes passed by, and I was in the first bus.

I seriously question the logistics of bussing hundreds of people (and transporting their luggage behind the scenes) back and forth... the fact that it was in the poaring rain and it took quite a while to get to the terminal has me wondering how this can be an effective method. The airlines cannot be happy about it. The customers cannot be happy about it.

Nevertheless, luggage came out relatively quickly, within 10 minutes of our arrival to the baggage claim (although still a good 20 minutes from the plane parking). It was no longer than 5 minutes after that that my bags came out (priority bags were on the 2nd set to be sent up)

Once in the main terminal, after baggage claim, everything else was a zoo. Lots of people, full elevators, and at least 100 people in line for taxis (at the various taxi queues). After 5 minutes in line, and not one person moving, I headed up to the departures level and got my own cab.

Many taxis waiting (for their next victim), but I grabbed one that was unloading a passengers bags, and hopped in their cab, 1 hour and 4 minutes after landing... and I was finally on my way to the city.

205THB on the meter, no tollways, no airport fee. I gave him 380 and we were both happy.